Ordinance No. 2023-12 Lynwood Center CPA (Approved 050923)Page 1 of 3
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-12
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, adding a policy to both the Land Use and
Housing Elements of the Comprehensive Plan related to
density in the Lynwood Center Neighborhood Center area.
WHEREAS, the City of Bainbridge Island (City) accepts requests to amend the
Comprehensive Plan every three years as described in the Comprehensive Plan
Amendment (CPA) process established by Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (BIMC)
Chapter 2.16.190; and
WHEREAS, 2022 was a CPA application year, and the City received five CPA
applications during the January and February 2022 submission window; and
WHEREAS, Indigo Architecture & Interiors submitted a CPA, permit file
number PLN52180 CPA, requesting both a policy addition and an amendment to the
Future Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan to change the density regulations from
units per acre to floor area ratio (FAR) in the Lynwood Center Neighborhood Center
(NC) area, to support housing diversity and affordability goals; and
WHEREAS, City planning and public works staff analyzed the Lynwood Center
CPA, and determined that changing the density from the current density range of two-
twelve units per acre to a 1.05 FAR density limit could result in a substantial increase in
residential development; and
WHEREAS, the Lynwood Center NC area is within the South Island Sewer Area
and City public works staff calculated that there is not additional sewer capacity to
support an increase in density at this time, and therefore City planning and public works
staff recommended denial of the application to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City staff presented the Lynwood Center CPA and the staff
recommendation to the Planning Commission, and the Planning Commission considered
the application and at a study session on September 8, 2022; and
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2022 the applicant revised the Lynwood Center
CPA application to request a policy amendment only, and to revise the policy wording
from “shall” to “may”, requesting to add the following policy to the City Comprehensive
Plan Land Use and Housing Elements- The City may allow floor area ratio based zoning
in the Lynwood Center Subarea Plan for parcels zoned Neighborhood Center (NC) and
Neighborhood Center / R-12 (NC/R-12) to promote housing diversity and affordability;
and
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, City staff analyzed the revised application, and given that the CPA
had been scaled back to not result in any increase in density at this time; changed its
recommendation to “approval”; and
WHEREAS, City staff presented the revised Lynwood Center CPA application
and staff recommendation to the Planning Commission and at a study session on October
27, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City issued a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Determination of Nonsignificance for this CPA application on October 28, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Ordinance No.
2023-12 on March 23, 2023, and after closing the public hearing, continued discussion of
the CPA application; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission approved a motion to slightly amend
proposed new policies LU 9.5 and HO 4.9, and to recommend approval to the City
Council of adding the amended policies to the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, notice was given on March 10, 2023, to the Office of Community
Development at the Washington State Department of Commerce in conformance with
RCW 36.70A.106; and
WHEREAS, on April 25, 2023, the City Council considered Ordinance No.
2023-12; and
WHEREAS, on May 9, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-12.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds that the Lynwood Center CPA application,
permit number PLN52180 CPA, is in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan, the
CPA decision criteria, and all applicable state laws in effect at the time of approval.
Section 2. The following policy is hereby added to the Land Use Element of the
Comprehensive Plan.
Policy LU 9.5 The City may allow floor area ratio (FAR) based zoning in the
Lynwood Center Subarea for parcels zoned Neighborhood Center (NC) and
NC/R-12 only if used to promote housing affordability.
Section 3. The following policy is hereby added to the Housing Element of the
Comprehensive Plan.
Page 3 of 3
Policy HO 4.9 The City may allow floor area ratio (FAR) based zoning in the
Lynwood Center Subarea for parcels zoned Neighborhood Center (NC) and
NC/R-12 only if used to promote housing affordability.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days from
its passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council this 9th day of May, 2023.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 9th day of May, 2023.
Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
Christine Brown, MMC, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: April 21, 2023
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: May 9, 2023
PUBLISHED: May 19, 2023
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 24, 2023
ORDINANCE NUMBER: 2023-12